The Atlanta Hawks had a special evening planned for their March 16 game against the Orlando Magic.
The Hawks, who have played very well lately and are firmly in the play-in tournament at the moment, were set to honor an Atlanta staple, Magic City, which they called an “iconic cultural institution.” That plan, however, took an unexpected turn.
NBA Cancels Atlanta Hawks’ Magic City Night Promotion
Before the event could proceed, the NBA intervened and directed the Hawks to cancel Magic City Night.
While many do know Magic City as an “iconic cultural institution,” most know it as a strip club. Despite it being one of Atlanta’s most well-known landmarks, the NBA does not want to be associated with a place like that, at least not publicly.
“When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks’ scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.
“While we appreciate the team’s perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees. I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community.”
While the news disappointed many Hawks fans, the night on March 16 remains packed with activities.
Hawks Respond to NBA’s Cancellation of Magic City Night
In response to the cancellation, the Hawks released an official statement.
The statement reads: “While we are very disappointed in the NBA’s decision to cancel our Magic City Night promotion, we fully respect their decision. As a franchise, we remain committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta – with authenticity – in ways that continue to unite and bring us all together.”
— Atlanta HaWWWWWWks (@ATLHawks) March 9, 2026
Despite these changes, the Hawks are still promising fans an entertaining experience. Unfortunately, several advertised highlights have been canceled.
There will no longer be a live recording of the Hawks AF Podcast with Hawks principal owner, filmmaker, and actor Jami Gertz, T.I., and Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney, and the limited-edition Peachtree-themed hoodies won’t be available for purchase.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE GAME:
◾️ Legendary rapper and ‘King of the South’ T.I. will perform at halftime as scheduled.
◾️ The limited-edition Peachtree themed hoodie will no longer be available for purchase at the game on March 16th. All pre-ordered merchandise will be honored and…
— Atlanta HaWWWWWWks (@ATLHawks) March 9, 2026
Still, not everything has been cut: Atlanta legend T.I. will perform at halftime, and culinary offerings, including the wings that helped make Magic City famous, will remain part of the evening.
Lou Williams Weighs In on Magic City Night
Former Hawks guard Lou Williams, famously a big fan of the wings, was very excited about the promotion.
“It’s about ATL, it’s about the Hawks, it’s about Magic (City), so shout out to all parties involved,” Williams said. “Everybody won’t be happy about everything. I think it’s an opportunity for everybody to be educated on things that they agree with and things that they don’t agree with.”
Williams thinks the wings, specifically lemon pepper, are what Atlanta is all about.
“In our city, we eat wings. That’s what we do,” he said. “I got a flavor in Magic and a couple other places in the city so that’s what it’s turned into.”
So while some plans were scrapped, at least the wings will still be part of the evening.
